How many tutoring sessions will my child need?

Keep reading for more details about how this test prep expert creates a prep plan for a standardized test!

"How many tutoring sessions will my child need?"

It’s the most commonly asked question in a consultation before tutoring begins, and I understand why parents ask. They want to know how long of a commitment they’re making as they schedule sessions in their child’s busy extracurricular lineup.

I wish I could easily say 5 or 10 sessions. Some tutoring companies do. They encourage parents to buy packages, making promises of higher scores. But learning how to score well on a standardized test is like learning an instrument, and these skills often take weeks to months to hone. Would you expect to play first chair in a symphony after only five lessons?

I am concerned about the individual. Everyone is different and has different goals which we must honor and consider.

Still, tutoring shouldn’t be an everlasting slog. The start point and end point, along with monthly simulated practice tests, should be established from the beginning. Students feel motivated to achieve their goals when they have tangible targets. Tutors should be in consistent contact with parents to make sure that everyone is on the same page.

Here are the four factors that come into play when I determine how many tutoring sessions your child needs:

Your child’s baseline

I need to know how the student scores before tutoring begins to see where the content gaps are. For the SSAT, ISEE, or SHSAT, most students score pretty low initially because these tests are designed to have upper-level math that these students haven’t learned yet. For the ACT/SAT, students often find they know most of the content covered, except for the math section’s hardest questions. They need to review grammar rules that often haven’t been reviewed since 7th grade and learn the best strategies to maximize their scores.

Your child's goal score

I take my time when consulting with a parent so I can begin to understand the student. What are their strengths and weaknesses? Favorite subjects? Hobbies and passions? Are they excited to start tutoring or do they need to ease in? Where do they want to go to school? All of these factors are very important and help determine the student’s goal score.

Your child's schedule

How much time does the student realistically have? Students are often encouraged to pursue many different avenues of interest. Because of this, they may not be able to meet until 8 pm on a weeknight. Sometimes we need to work around games, meets, or rehearsals and have to skip a week (though I do my best to maintain consistency as we work towards their goals). For the ACT/SAT, I recommend starting at least by the summer before junior year. For the ISEE/SAT/SHSAT, I recommend starting in the spring or summer before 8th grade.

How much effort your child can put into their test prep

I have found the more work students do outside of our sessions, the quicker they improve their scores. Homework serves important purposes: to reinforce a lesson from our session, to familiarize a student with the test format, or to help build focus. Despite their busy schedules, I encourage my students to aim for at least 10-15 minutes every day. I adjust how much work is given based on availability, but to prevent a time crunch closer to test day, it’s best to cover the content early and steadily. A relaxed student is a better performing student.

Here are some examples of the four factors at work:

*For context, a student needs at least 73% correct on their SHSAT to get into most specialized high schools. They will need a more competitive percentage correct to get into the top three schools.

Student 1 started studying for the SHSAT in May. Their baseline was 70% correct answers. Their goal score was at least 85% correct, but they were spending all summer at camp or traveling, so they didn’t really have the summer to study. In the fall, they had soccer and basketball practice competing with their SHSAT study time. After we adjusted their homework load to make it less daunting and more doable, they completed every homework assignment and aced their mock tests. They scored higher than the cut off for Bronx High School of Science, but their goal was Brooklyn Tech, where they were accepted.

Student 2 started studying for the SHSAT in September. Their baseline was 40%, though their ELA was stronger than their math and their goal was 75%. I had to teach them some math concepts, such as algebraic equations from word problems, advanced probability, and some basic trigonometry. Their schedule started off relatively light with just choir after school, but then they booked a lead in their school play and started taking an audition class. Was it more of a time crunch for this student? Yes. But did they rise to the challenge and have the drive and effort to achieve their goal? Yes. By the end of our sessions, they were scoring at least 80% correctly consistently and they were accepted to Brooklyn Tech.

Let’s determine what your four factors are, and let’s get to work!

Andersen Education is a team of specialized tutors in New York City led by Remy Zaken Andersen. We use creative and engaging techniques along with positive motivation to guide your students to improve their grades and test scores as well as build their confidence and strengthen their relationship with academics. We approach tutoring holistically, factoring in not only a student's scores but also their personality, learning habits, organizational skills, and passions. Academics and testing are stressful enough, so we are determined to make your student's tutoring as accessible and enjoyable as possible.

Looking for Anderson Education? That's probably us! We spell it AndersEn - E for excellence.

Contact Remy for a free strategy consultation to discuss your child's needs.